I do have lots of support from friends @teenie87 - I fact I feel really lucky in that regard and keep reminding myself of that when I start feeling sorry for myself. My husband is being really fantastic and I have a good network of friends who are regularly checking in. Thanks for asking - it’s so important for all of us to have that support. But ultimately we go through this alone, don’t we - I do feel that everyone else’s lives are carrying on while the rug has been pulled out from under mine, all summer plans cancelled and difficult to plan ahead as we don’t know when “normal” life will resume. As well as the bigger demons, worrying about surgery and the longer term health implications. So I am thinking about accessing some sort of counselling to help me to process all of that. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to access counselling? It hasn’t been mentioned to me by my BCN and she’s on holiday at the moment. Not sure if there is anything available via the hospital.
Hunting for sea glass sounds like a lovely thing to do. Do you live near the coast?
Hello! That sounds tough with 2 small children but you sound very level headed. How far into your treatment/chemo are you? I’ve only had my first one so I’ve still got a lot to learn! Hoping that you are also enjoying a sense of normality along this crazy journey! Sending hugs
Hello! I can’t recall if I responded to you or not so apologies if I already said this! I really appreciate your message. Your household sounds similar to mine but even busier! I like the way that you have taken the approach to let everyone live as normal life as possible in your household. I might be erring on the side of hygiene mania at the moment but perhaps I’ll relax slightly as time goes by. Wishing you well on your journey.
Hello - yes, this is the club that nobody wants to join! Thanks for your message and advice. That all sounds sensible. It must be tough not seeing your grandchildren, albeit temporary. I also had to ask my eldest son to stay away on his days off from residential work last week(working with big groups of children in an Oxford college) because he was ill and I really missed him. Luckily, he was able to come home this week on his days off and I was sooo grateful to see him. Wishing you well
I accessed councilling thriugh my local hospice and we have a wessex cancer centre, it may be worth speaking to your gp social prescriber if you are uncertain where to access, or perhaps one of the other BCN can help whist yours is on holiday. I hope you manage to get seen soon, it helped me. Hugs
Thanks. I’ve taken the Odansetron but read the info for Domperidone and decided to maybe save that for the really bad stuff. The problem is they’ve only prescribed enough for a week and as I wasn’t sure when I would start to feel sick . I was hit by the truck in the middle of the night with sweats cramps and the Mother of all headaches! Took my temp and surprised it was only 35.7. But I’m up, showered, dressed and watching the Rugby. Going with it. X
Hi everyone, another July chemo starter here. I was diagnosed in April after screening mammogram. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 2, Er+ PR+. HER2-, 1.5cm but had spread to lymph nodes. Underwent surgery in May with wide local excision and axillary lymph node clearance, 4/9 nodes affected. Chemo starts on the 22 July, x4 EC (3 weekly) then Paclitaxel x12 (weekly) followed by 3 weeks radiotherapy then hormonal treatment for 7yrs. Dreading the chemo starting. Going to try cold capping. Reading all the tips and comments on here is really helpful and knowing there is support available here is a comfort too. Good luck go everyone what ever treatment regime you are on. Hope it all goes as well as it can.
I completely agree about others lives continuing- it feels like a parallel universe sometimes I think. Im not sure I’ve really completely accepted I have breast cancer- there is so much to take in and treatment stages to focus on. I just try to digest each stage at a time. I suspect it will be a while before I truly believe it’s happening (although I do logically know it is!). And yes, I live on the north east coast so we’re just 10mins from the beach and the sea. Just seeing the sea always makes me feel better!
I’m glad you have friends supporting too. It’s a real help to have that. I have been referred internally to the psychology team that is linked to cancer services in our hospital. And there are also a couple of charities close to me that offer counselling. I have also used the ‘someone like me’ service from breast cancer now, which isn’t counselling but is a nice support.
@athletics2025 I think the level headedness comes and goes! Ha! I’m only at the start with chemo too. I was diagnosed in April, had surgery May, and I’ve done 1 EC. I have 4 ECs and 4 paclatixel to do (fortnightly). Then plan is more surgery (I had the margins on the breast lump but not the lymph nodes so we need to do full clearance) and radiotherapy after that. It’s a lot of learning isn’t it?! I’m so glad you got to see your son How are you doing after the first chemo?
I got my wig today- which is far more realistic and close to my natural hair than I hoped for! How are others getting on with hair loss?
Well done @rugbygal1 for getting through the rough days! And hello @mikb14!
Hi welcome @mikb14 . Good luck for tomorrow☘️. Think the thought is worse than the deed. The actual receiving if the chemo I found fine but it’s the not knowing what side effects you’ll have. I think if you expect the worse, hope for the best and take whatever comes you may be surprised …you will get through it😗 I wasn’t going to cold cap as I’d read lots of negative comments but when I went for my first cycle I had a long wait on the chemo ward and the ladies either side of me had both cold capped and convinced me to give it a whirl. I’m so glad I did. I do have very thick hair and found that after the first 10 minutes it was ok. The staff suggested I bring a Terry hairband to put between the cap and my forehead. Take some warm clothes too x all the best
Hello - I think I’d like to live by the sea right now! That must be lovely - although I do live in the countryside which I find relaxing- I would be lost right now without the tranquility of nature. Anyhow, similar to you, I was diagnosed with breast cancer only in May, I had to accept this really quickly (which I feel that I’ve accepted it now) although sometimes it’s hard to believe. My treatment involves neoadjuvant chemo, that is chemo first, probably followed by a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. My first treatment itself was fine - I felt safe in hospital with the lovely nurses. It was when I came home that my anxiety developed. The first few days were crap, mainly because I could not get to sleep despite being tired - I was a walking zombie, I was anxious and had some constipation (the latter a bit self inflicted due to a poor choice). But then about 6 days after the treatment, I turned a corner and began to sleep again, constipation went etc. I’ve since worked - working remotely part time, I’ve generally felt much more myself these days and am beginning to be active again. Like you, I’m actually going to a local cancer support centre for counselling tomorrow and I have a conversation on Wednesday with the Someone Like Me service. My main issue is trying not to get too anxious about every single new feeling, side effect etc. Anyhow just taking each day as it comes and enjoying times when I feel good. Wishing you well
Just dropping in to say ‘Hi’ as I’ve scrapped this one in by the skin of my teeth.
My first chemo is 30th July. I am having my PICC fitted next week and just waiting for all of my other appointments to come through that are needed prior to starting.
I was diagnosed at 40 in April grade 3 IDC and DCIS ER+ PR+ Her2 -. Spread to one lymph node. 2 surgeries to to get clear margins and remove all lymph nodes on right side.
I’m now due to start 3 x EC, 2 weekly and 3 x Docetaxel, 3 weekly. Hoping to get out the other side of this in October as unscathed as possible.
My Oncologist made promise not to be a hero and take any side effects really seriously and be in regular contact should we have any concerns. I just expected I would feel horrendous for the next 3 months but she seems hopeful it doesn’t need to be that way. Here’s hoping !
Hi everyone
Not been around for a while… the second cycle has been much better than the first in terms of nausea and pain but the brain fog… ouch! Makes me sad when I can’t talk properly.
I’ve had two cycles now with cold cap but have booked the mobile hairdresser today to have a pixie cut because it’s shedding everywhere and I’d rather be bald than watch this. It doesn’t even look like my hair anymore anyway. It’s like a long dry fuzz.
Well done trying the cold cap, I did for 12 weekly paclitaxel and had two small bald patches and some thinning. I did have a lot of hair so the thinning wasn’t too noticeable. Yes a hairband is important to protect your forehead from the cold, some ladies have used gauze given by hospital or even a pantyliner! Whatever works for you. I found taking paracetamol 30 minutes before helped a bit as well as distraction for first 10/15 minutes.
Please look at the cold cap link I posted at the beginning of the thread. ( you can click on my user name and then you can see all posts in this thread)
AlsoLook Good Feel Better charity offer online and in person course for hair, clothing, nail and skin care. You can also get a wonderful bag of goodies.
Cancer Hair Care charity is run by Jasmin who worked with Trevor Sorbie, they offer individual help and can send you some goodies. I received some C-lash eyelashes designed for people with no eyelashes.
@naughtyboob thank you. Yes I’m booked onto look good feel better course for this Friday but my chemo was delayed by a week and I’m wondering if I’ll feel like going or if my immunity will be rock bottom:thinking: I’ll take a look at cancer hair care charity:hugs: x
Hello! Just wondering how you found your second treatment (the effects of it) compared to the first? Did you experience similar side effects (if any - but no side effects would be unlikely) to the first time or different? I have my second E-C chemo treatment coming up next Friday and I guess my main query is whether it gets progressively harder (more side effects) or whether things tend to remain stable across cycles or is everyone’s journey so different that it is impossible to tell?
Hey there
I was very nauseous and lots of tummy pain and fatigue straight away as soon as I left hospital with my first round. They changed my anti sickness meds with the second round and I felt fab… was joking they’d given me a placebo. No sickness or tummy pain at all.
I was still tired but this time after the steroids stopped.
With the second cycle I had more brain fog and my processing and speaking has been confused and that was a shock.
So, for me it was definitely much better overall.
Third cycle is Tuesday so I’ll update you on thay.
Hope your cycle goes well and what I’ve learned is if you feel rubbish ask for A med review xx
you got this!
How are you doing after the first chemo?
